Mon Oct 06 03:30:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Anthony Bourdain’s Essential Cooking Skills for Everyone**
The late Anthony Bourdain, celebrated chef and world traveler, believed that basic cooking skills were essential life skills. In a 2014 interview with Men’s Journal, Bourdain outlined the dishes he thought everyone over the age of 12 should know how to prepare reasonably well.
At the top of Bourdain’s list were simple, foundational dishes: a properly made omelet, a perfectly roasted chicken, a grilled steak, and a basic soup or stew. He emphasized the importance of mastering fundamental techniques over aspiring to be a master chef.
Beyond these basics, Bourdain advocated for learning to make a classic homemade pomodoro sauce and a simple pasta dish. “It would make the world a better place if we all knew how to cook pasta properly,” he said.
Bourdain also linked the ability to make a proper omelet to personal responsibility, stating in his book “Medium Raw” that one should be able to make someone a proper omelet before sleeping with them, showing the omelet as a basic gesture of civility and selflessness.
While Bourdain appreciated culinary artistry and innovation, he often found joy in simpler dishes like french fries, hot dogs, and mapo tofu. His culinary advice emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics as a foundation for further exploration in the kitchen. He has a cookbook called Appetites if you need further guidance.
First Piper 